Yoga as a Spiritual Practice

(Yes, for Christians, Too!)

Although yoga has existed in India from times before the memory of humanity...the need
for its physical and psychospiritual benefits has never been greater than in the world
today. Joanna Cashman, yoga therapist and creator of Radiant Health Yoga
Most of us are well aware of the physical benefits of yoga, such as increasing flexibility
and strength. When considering the psychological benefits, relaxation and stress
reduction probably come to mind. But how can yoga help with our spiritual
development?
First, it should be clarified that yoga is not a religion. Although its origins are
undoubtedly Eastern (and specifically Hindi), as a spiritual practice, it is compatible with
a range of belief systems. For example, Nancy Roth is an Episcopalian minister who
instructs her students in how to use yoga as a means of embodied prayer, and frequently
uses yoga to deepen ones experience of the biblical psalms. (See her book An Invitation
to Christian Yoga for examples.) Thomas Ryan, a Catholic priest, does similar work (as
demonstrated on his DVD Yoga Prayer).
In addition to using yoga practice as an opportunity for spiritual reflection, understanding
basic yogic philosophy can help us consider ways to live more authentically. In the third
century BC, Patanjali wrote a series of guidelines for spiritual living that we now call the
Yoga Sutras. These include the Five Niyamas.
The first niyama is Shaucha, which means that and nothing else, or living purely. It
involves making conscious choices about what you want and dont want in your life for
example, eating nutritious food; consuming media that is uplifting rather than violent and
degrading; and conserving natural resources. When we live in an uncluttered environment
and make purchases carefully based upon what we truly need and want rather than
impulsively buying the latest gadget advertised on a late-night infomercial, we are
practicing Shaucha.
The second is Santosha, meaning contentment. This refers to finding joy from your
inner life rather than pining for what you dont have. It helps us cultivate an attitude of
gratitude for what is. This is not to say that if we practice Santosha, we are complacent
and tolerate abusive relationships or poor working conditions. However, it does mean that
we are patient with our life circumstances. We live as best we can, remaining faithful that
living a richer, more authentic life is possible and that the decisions we make will help
make this a reality.
The third is Tapas, which literally means fire but is defined for our purposes as burning
enthusiasm. When we live a life in accordance with our values, our energy is directed
more toward personal growth, rather than being eaten up by trivial matters. We have the
courage to face reality and the zeal to move forward with a clear sense of purpose.

The fourth is Swadhyaya, or self-study. It means being willing to examine our own
process and more deeply understand our strengths as well as our limitations. When faced
with lifes challenges, Swadhyaya helps us to achieve personal growth by encouraging us
to turn inward and discover more about ourselves.
The final principle is Ishvarapranidhana, which means celebration of the spiritual. It
entails deepening our awareness that there is a higher power that is continually present,
supporting us. Yogis believe that all of lifes activities can be spiritual practices, from
praying to cleaning the sink. We just need to clear the cobwebs of distraction and
dedicate our actions to God to bring greater meaning to our lives.
When considering the niyamas, one can see how closely the themes resemble those of
many various Western and Eastern religions. For example, if we take a closer look at
Santosha, Tapas, and Swadhyaya, we can see that they roughly correspond to the Serenity
Prayer, which has been attributed to St. Francis: God give me the strength to accept that
which I cannot change (Santosha), the courage to change what I can change (Tapas), and
the wisdom to know the difference (Swadhyaya). (This prayer has, of course, also
provided inspiration to thousands of participants in twelve step programs, and is related
to the Western psychological tenet of locus of control.)
In closing, although Westerners may think of yoga as exercise, it is so much more. The
postures simply provide a means of becoming more deeply connected to our true nature
and accepting ourselves as we are. When we turn inward and experience self-compassion,
this naturally extends to others and ultimately helps us feel deeply grounded in lifes
meaning and purpose. In a world in which we are continually distracted by being paged,
e-mailed and IMd, and bombarded by hundreds of ads each week, we truly do need yoga
more now than ever.

References
Cashman, J. (2005). Radiant Health Yoga Teacher Training Manual.
(Unpublished)
Farhi, D. (2000). Yoga Mind, Body and Spirit: A Return to Wholeness. New York:
Henry Holt & Company.